"If you're looking for a way to play the rise in silver without having to take on the risk of futures positions, Endeavour Silver (EXK) should be at the top of your list of potential investments," says Jack Barnes.

The contributing editor to Money Morning explains, "Endeavor recently released its annual results for 2010; to say that they hit the ball out of the park would be an understatement.

"Founded in 1981, Endeavour Silver is based out of Vancouver, Canada. The company has more than 750 full-time employees, with production of gold and silver in Mexico. It has a market cap of about $700 million, with an enterprise value of $574 million, once net debt and cash is accounted for.

"Silvercorp Metals (SVM), based in Vancouver, Canada, produces silver from mines in China and Canada; annual revenues are $153 million," notes Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "SVM's stock has ridden rides the wave of rising prices for silver and the stock has broken out from a three-month, cup-and-handle base.

"Silvercorp mined 406,754 tons of ore in the past fiscal year. It sold 4.6 million ounces of silver, 62.4 million pounds of lead and 14.7 million pounds of zinc.

"Silver stocks are exploding upwards; one beneficiary is Coeuer d'Alene Mines (CDE), a classic turnaround story," says Mark Skousen.

The editor of The Turnaround Letter explains, "Despite the recent run-up, still is selling at a 60% discount from its high of $60 a share back in 2006.

"Although it was founded in 1928 and is one of the oldest silver mines in the famed northern Idaho panhandle, it's been a money loser for years and heavily in debt.

"You've undoubtedly noticed gold's run up; but you may have missed the serious gains coming from gold's underappreciated sister -- silver," suggests Keith Fitz-Gerald.

The editor of The New China Trader explains, "To play this trend, we are buying Silvercorp Metals (SVM), which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of silver mining properties in Canada and China.

"Silver currently shows a powerful 'cup-and-handle' formation; we've seen similar formations for gold over the past couple of years, and each time the metal subsequently rallied to new all-time highs," notes Brien Lundin.

The editor of The Gold Newsletter -- and the host of the annual New Orleans Gold Conference -- explains, "This pattern is a potent indication of a rally ahead.

In short, silver is shining right now, and seems ready to gleam even more brightly, especially in comparison to gold. Meanwhile, one of our favorite silver stocks is Silvercorp Metals (SVM).

"With many stocks so clearly undervalued, we set ourselves the goal of finding some with the potential to double or better over the next 18 to 24 months," says Stephen Leeb.

The editor of The Complete Investor adds, "Two such gems are metals plays -- Silver Wheaton (SLW), a more conservative play in our growth portfolio, and NovaGold Resources (NG), a more speculative holding in our small-cap value portfolio.

"These two metal picks are both leveraged to precious metals, one to silver and one to gold.

"In our view, golden days lie ahead for silver; and one of the most promising small-cap silver mining companies is Coeur d' Alene Mines (CDE), which I believe has the potential for 40 percent or more upside," says Ian Wyatt.

The editor of The 100K Portfolio explains, "While the company takes it's name from the Idaho town in which it is headquartered, this is a mining company with a global presence.

"With mines in geographically stable areas including Argentina, Alaska, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico and Nevada, the operations are wide reaching.

"Silver Wheaton (SLW) remains an undervalued stock on our buy list," says resource expert Adrian Day.

The money manager and editor of The Global Analyst explains, "We note that Silver Wheaton is not a mining company. Instead, in a business model similar to a royalty model, it acquires the stream of revenue from the silver output of other miners.

"The company usually enters these arrangements with miners for whom silver is a by-product. In a typical arrangement, Silver Wheaton pays a certain amount up-front plus a per ounce payment in exchange for all the revenue from the silver output.

"We have reinstated our buy recommendations for Silver Wheaton Corp. (SLW) and Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS)," says Jack Adamo.

The editor of Insiders Plus explains, "First, we look at Pan American Silver; this is one the steadiest growers I've seen in any industry. It has more than tripled its silver production in the last 8 years. Its stock has trounced the S&P 500 over the last five, ten and twenty years.

Daniel Frishberg -- a former Wall Street insider and the current host of BizRadio -- offers an intriguing glimpse behind the scenes of the gold market.

In his The Moneyman.com Gold & Oil Report, he questions the role of not just overall market fundamentals, but short positions held by institutions. He also looks to a new long positions in silver.

Frishberg explains, "There are plenty of reasons to be bullish on the future of gold prices, including a weak US dollar. Further, India's Central Bank recently announced their purchase of gold from the IMF. Russian and Chinese Central Bankers have also expressed an interest in purchasing the remaining IMF gold.

With gold and silver prices testing new highs, we turn to several leading resource experts -- Mary Anne and Pamela Aden, Mark Skousen and Larry Edelson -- for their favorite plays in the sector.

In The Aden Forecast, the Aden sisters explain, "Gold and silver recently moved well into record high territory, and it looks like they are poised to head even higher.

"Most impressive, gold's leading indicator still has room to rise further before it reaches the high area. This tells us that gold's current C rise is very strong and it's now likely headed to our next target level near $1200. Meanwhile, December gold will remain super strong above $1,020.

"Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) has set a new standard for silver resources; simply put, its boasts the largest published in-ground silver resource of any publicly-traded silver company," says mining stock specialist Brien Lundin.

In The Gold Newsetter he adds, "We were fortunate over the years that the great idea behind this company was combined with a great management team, as CEO Bob Quartermain is among the best in the business."

"Silver Standard has 1.127 billion ounces in measured and indicated resources, plus another 195 million ounces in proven and probable reserves, and another 456 million ounces in inferred resources.

"Its resources come from a portfolio of properties spanning the globe from Argentina, Peru, and Mexico, to Canada, Chile, the US and Australia. Now the companyis making the transition to production with aggressive development programs on five core properties.

"Getting invested in precious metal for the long term is our end game," says Daniel Frishberg, host of BizRadio and editor of The MoneyMan.com Gold & Oil. Here's a look at two ETFs.

"It looks as if prices could go higher short term, especially if US dollar weakness continues. The risk of owning gold at today's price level is that net commercial short positions continue to increase.

"Attempts by producers and speculators to bid up prices are matched by increases in commercial short positions. Gold prices are being controlled not by physical buyers and sellers, but by futures traders.

When gold was trading above $1,000 an ounce, Curtis Hesler reversed his buy signal and fortuitously warned of a seasonal pullback expected over the summer.

In his The Professional Timing Service, he stated, "Gold should settle into the cyclical and seasonal lows due in early August. Although you will hear plenty of bearish arguments as gold prices pull back, weakness will be a buying opportunity."

He now explains, "I don't think there is much left on downside for the mining shares. We will likely see the miners firm up and begin to rally before the bullion. My adice is to hold tight and exploit the fear.

"This weakness presents a final opportunity before the late summer and early fall strength returns to precious metals. The coast is clearing for gold to advance to new highs by October when its next seasonal high is due.

"Longer-term, I can't help but wonder if gold isn't anticipating the next break in the dollar. We all should be thinking about the trillions of dollars in U.S. government unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, pensions, etc. There's going to be a tsunami of dollars printed to cover all of that.

"At the top of my buy list is Kinross (NYSE: KGC). Yamana (NYSE: AUY) is an excellent diversification in the precious metals sector. Also among my favorites is Goldcorp (NYSE: GG)."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

"I think an excellent way to profit from higher silver prices is to buy Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI)," says Jim Powell in Growth Stock Alert. Here's his new buy.

"Unlike gold mining companies, of which there are dozens, there are only five major publicly-traded silver producers. The limited number of investment options concentrates Wall Street's interest when silver is hot, and can send prices sharply up.

"Silver Standard controls the world's largest published in-ground silver resources of any publicly-traded silver company. The company has properties in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Canada, the U.S. and Australia. All
properties have either been purchased (a rarity in the mining industry) or optioned at a fraction of the current
silver price.

"In an industry where most silver is found as a by-product from mining other metals, it is also significant that the company's output is approximately 72% silver. The remaining metals produced are gold, tin, zinc, copper and lead - none of which is more than 8% of the total output.

"Silver Standard's status as a pure-play further concentrates interest in the company when silver is in the spotlight. Silver Standard is also leveraged by the high cost of extracting the metal.

"Once silver prices cross the breakeven point, nearly every dollar goes to profits. Silver Standard must be considered speculative. But if you are willing to accept the risk, and a probable roller coaster ride, the stock could be very rewarding."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.